AW: Akunk Village opens new medical center for its residents

A warm greeting awaited Paros Foundation staff and guests at the ribbon cutting at the Akunk Medical Center.

AKUNK VILLAGE, Armenia—The Gegharkunik region village of Akunk has a new medical center thanks to the work of The Paros Foundation through benefactor Alex Cherchian (SC-USA). Prior to the completion of this new center, the medical staff worked to address the needs of more than 4,500 people in this community from a room in the nearby village school.  

“The fact that Akunk did not have a dedicated medical center space with sanitary conditions to adequately service its population was a huge problem,” said Peter Abajian, executive director of The Paros Foundation. “I would like to extend our appreciation to Mr. Alex Cherchian and his family for sponsoring this important project.” 

While the work on the medical center was completed in September of 2022 and the staff began work at the new center, the official ribbon cutting was delayed until mid-February because of the September attack on Armenia by Azerbaijan.  

In 2020, the regional government of Gegharkunik partially renovated the facility but never completed the work. The Paros Foundation installed the center’s heating system, completed the plaster and painting, installed flooring throughout and completed the plumbing systems and bathroom. Now the center is fully equipped with a laboratory, restroom, patient exam rooms and administrative offices. 

Paros staff, Akunk Medical Center staff, Tavush Regional Deputy Governor, Akunk Village representative and head of the Vardenis Consolidated Community celebrate the opening of the Akunk Medical Center.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS